Barclays hires head of sustainable and impact banking

Barclays has hired Denise Wong as head of sustainable and impact banking, Asia Pacific. Wong will be responsible for advising corporate and institutional clients on leveraging opportunities to meet sustainability objectives, and will report to Vanessa Koo, head of investment banking, Asia Pacific. Wong brings more than 20 years’ experience, having worked with Barclays across … Read more

Why biodiversity is next for green bond expansion

The need to transform how we interact with nature creates a major opportunity for the green bond universe, but also presents challenges. So far, green bond issuers have successfully embraced funding the transition toward carbon neutrality. But far fewer issuers are currently looking at regenerative biodiversity projects or initiatives that seek to protect our ecosystems … Read more

Asia sustainable funds see higher inflows in Q3 despite global declines

Global sustainable funds recorded another decline in inflows in the third quarter of the year, with investors backing the sector with $13.7bn compared to a revised $23.6bn in the previous quarter, but sustainable assets fell in value less than traditional counterparts. Falling stock valuations meant global sustainable fund assets declined by 4.2% to $2.74trn at … Read more

US sustainable fund outflows accelerate in Q3 but Europe remains resilient

Global sustainable funds recorded another decline in inflows in the third quarter of the year, with investors backing the sector with $13.7bn compared to a revised $23.6bn in the previous quarter, but sustainable assets fell in value less than traditional counterparts. Falling stock valuations meant global sustainable fund assets declined by 4.2% to $2.74trn at … Read more

Fidelity launches Paris-aligned fixed income ETFs

Fidelity International has launched two active fixed income ETFs with a focus on sustainable investing, classified as Article 9 under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. Fidelity Sustainable EUR Corporate Bond – Paris Aligned Multifactor Ucits ETF and Fidelity Sustainable USD Corporate Bond – Paris Aligned Multifactor Ucits ETF were listed on 23 October on the … Read more

Long-awaited SDR ‘missed opportunity’ for advisers

Financial advisers have not been explicitly included in the design of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) proposed labelling scheme to crack down on greenwashing, the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR), which, after several delays, is due to be in place before 2024. Furthermore, there is still no prescriptive guidance or regulation (outside COB) that dictates best … Read more

UBS GWM invests into CT sustainability fund

Columbia Threadneedle has announced that UBS Global Wealth Management (UBS GWM) has invested into its newly launched Sustainable Global Equity Enhanced Income strategy. The fund, which is registered for sale in Singapore, was launched in late August and has a combined yield target of between 4% and 8% per annum. The main purpose of the … Read more

Nikko AM joins call to reduce single use plastics

Nikko Asset Management has become the latest investment group to become a signatory to an investor statement calling for the reduction of single-use plastics. In May this year, a coalition of nearly 200 investors, with $10trn in combined assets under management, signed a statement demanding companies adopt a more radical approach to reduce their reliance … Read more